Clare O'Neil (Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Justice) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Like many millions of Australians, I have watched the deteriorating situations on Manus and Nauru with shock. I rise to make it absolutely clear that the government's actions do not represent my views and wishes and they do not represent the views and wishes of many of the people I represent.

Under the Turnbull government, Manus and Nauru have become places of indefinite detention. Refugees and asylum seekers have been held for over four years. They have no idea what the future holds for them. They have been held for too long. These people have been effectively imprisoned for longer than many people are held for serious crimes. We've had four years of chaos, four years of secrecy and four years of failure by the government to resolve this difficult problem. Recently, the government has seemed to want to argue that these people have nothing to do with us. How utterly ridiculous! Whatever your view may be about refugees, Australia has a clear responsibility to these people; whether it is moral or legal, in my view, is completely irrelevant.

The Prime Minister's and the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection's inability to secure third-country resettlement arrangements is another failure to add to this government's record. It is so disappointing that, when an opportunity to help resolve this problem lands in the government's lap, in New Zealand's offer to resettle eligible refugees, the government then rejects it. I call on the Prime Minister and the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection to show some compassion and humanity. Accept New Zealand's offer and make moves towards getting these people out of Manus and Nauru.